Wringer



gAug. 24,1926. Y y 1,596,880

' l W. E. JOHNSTON 1 WRINGER Filed Feb. 5, lggl' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ',:ftothe fons.

l In the drawings, I have illust-rated a coin- Patented Aug. 24, 19.26.

UNITED. STATES PATENT oF-Pi f WAYBUBN E. JOHNSTON, 0F ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

l to be broa ly new and which may be briefly' enumerated as follows: A so-called safety y guard, which'is movable from one feeding side ofthe rolls to the other, and o erating devices which couple the rolls to tie driving mechanism for the proper feeding movement in respect to the position of the guard.

20' The safety guard, when in a predetermined position, which is preferably a central ulpturned position, uncouples one ofthe ro s from the-other so that the rolls will sepa .i rate and be relieved from pressure; and '25 ,prfeferably, this same movement of the sa e the tiibl .from the driving mechanism, so that the roll-driving action will be stopped simultaneously with the release of theone 80 `roller from pressure towardv the other. With this arranvement, it follows that 'the rolls cannot be riven in the one directioxi or the other, except when the safety guard .Y is in roper position on the feeding side of sais rolls. In the safety-guard-actuating connection for coupling the driving mechanismto'the rolls, there is a yielding i `elementwhich permits the safety guard to be thrown from 'one position to another at any time and which will subsequentlv come into action to mercial form of the wringer, but it will, of course, be understood that I do no( limit inyself tothe details of mechanism illustrated Aand described in connection with these.v

drawings. .l

While the invention is` especially adapted for use in connection with clothes wrin rs, it is, of course, capable of' being u connection with power driven'rolls yfor various di'erent uses.

' wringer;

guard to neutral position uncouples Vcouple-'the driving mec anisin 'may be in the lits upper en invbevel gear 16 with which meshes, at di- W'RINGER.

Application Med February 5, 1821. Serial lo. 442,6794.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a Fig. 2 'is an end elevation sectioned substantially on-the line 2 2 of Fig. l'

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding toFilg. 2,

ave

with the exceiption that certain parts been o rate to release the ressure on the rol s and move the clutch into a posi- -tion to stop the lower roll;

Fig. 4 is also a View corresponding to Fig. 2, with the exception that certain parts have been operated to reverse the direction of rotation of the rolls;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation plan view of the improved i and partly in central vertical. section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in elevation and artly in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, with some arts diimetrically illustrated by means o broken inves;v

Fig. 7 is a detail view in section taken on i the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view with sc me parts 'sectioned on the line 8-8 of 5, with the'drain board shown in a di erent position by The frame of thev trated comprises a horizontal rotatable bearing head Ari dly secured one end of a lhorirontal tu ular bar 11 to which, in turn, is rigidly bifurcated secureda pair of laterally slpaced end brackets 12. Integra y formed with the bearinghead 9 and extending theremeans of broken lines. 'i

clothes wringer illus' 9- having a socket 10 in which is above, is a rectangular housing 13 havin a I removable .cover plate 14 held in position by screws. Suitable mechanism, not shown,

frame o several desired adjustments. v

An u right driving shaft-15 is journaledarin head 9 and has secured to 'within the housing 13, a

hor ontally oscillated ing reversing Iprovided to lock the head 9 to the v la washing machine orv other support to hold thel wringer frame. in any of gears 17, These gears 1 are i loosely journaled on a short horizontal shaft 18 journaled in bearings 19 formed with the housing 13. A shipper collar 20 is keyed to the shaft 18 between the gears 17 f-with, freedom for en-dwise sliding movement. Reversely formed one-way clutches 21 are formed onthe opposing faces ofthe shaftis journaled in stationary bearingsA 26 removably seated between the prongs of the `frame end brackets 12, and the shaft 24 is journaled in floating tubular bearings 27 turnably mounted between the prongs of the frame end brackets 12 above the stafheads 32 for simultaneouslyV oscillatory tionary bearings 26. Both airs of bearings 26 and 27 are removable rom the frame end brackets 12 by a lifting movement. The shaft 25, of the lower roll 23, is. axially aligned with the shaft 18- and is connected thereto for common rotation therewith bya separable connection formed by squaringl the inner end of said shaft 'at 28'and -seating the same in a correspondingly formedsocket member 29 secured to the adjacent' end of the shaft 18.' Obviously, the lower roll 23 may be readily removed from vthe wringerframe by lifting the same bodily, to carryl its bear? ings 26 from the frame end brackets 12, and` during this movement, a lslight "angularv4 movement of said roll will carry its'shaft 25 out'of the socket member 29 and separaftef` the. same from the driving mechanism.

shaft 25 o s termeshing gears 30 on the shafts 24 and 25.

The'npper roll 22 Ais driven -from the' the lower roll 23 vby pairsof in- These gears 30 are `spaced from the ends of the rolls 22 and 23 to afford clearance,

for a purpose that will presentl appear. The bearings 26 are held inthe rame end brackets 12 against endwise movement by. forming 'on the inner ends thereof, flanges 31 whichvextend between said frameV end brackets 12 and the gears 30 of the shaft 25.

The rolls 22 andV 23 may be held together, under the desired pressure, by spring. ten- Sion devices to which said upper roll may be connected, at will, by coupling heads 32 formed lon the outer' ends of the floating bearingsq27.` Inthe outer face of each Acoupling vhead 32 is' formed aV segmental. channel133and a peripheral entrance passageway 34 which opens into the intt'erme'di-l ate rtion of said channel. TheA coupling hea s 32 are connected to the spring tension devices by lugs 35 formed on the interino diate portions of levers 36 of said spring of the nuts44 to -va'r ways, and preferably, as shown, these flanges are made eccentric to .the axis of the shaft 24 to afford cam surfaces 37 which extend in opposite directions from the passageways 34 and arranged-f to lift the lugs 35 and,

hence, the levers 36 when the coupling heads 32 are turned in either direction in respect to an 'intermediate position in which the lugs 35 are aligned with the passageways 34.

Referring now to -the lsa'fet guard, las

shown, it will be noted that sai guard is in the form of an operating bar '38 having latp erally bent ends 39 detachably secured by nut# uipped bolts 40 to radial arms 41 formed with the coupling heads 32 at diametrically opposite points from the passageways 34. A

This safety guard connects lthe :coupling movement to start, stopor reverse the rolls 22-and 23. l Y..

The levers 36, of the spring pressure devices, are fulcrumed on studs 42 secured in the frame end brackets 12 and Vtheirl'free ends are apertured to receive and suport depending headed bolts 43 having, ont eir -lower ends, thumb nuts .44. These bolts 43 also loosely extend through apertured'lugs '45 formed with the framexend brackets 12 and on which lugs the free ends of the levers 36 normally rest. Coiled springs 46, whichy encircle the bolts 43, are compressed between spring'cas 47 and spring bases 48 through which fsalldbolts extend-5 lThe spring. caps 47 'and spring bases 48 react against thelugs 45 and nuts 44, respectively, as bases of re'-` jsistance. `To prevent the bolts v43 from turning in the levers 136 4duri'ngfthe adjustment thetensi'on of the spring 46, the under aces ofthe heads of said bolts are V-shaped in' cross section and' loo seated in correspondingly` formed grooves 49 formed in said levers.

The gears 30 and 'upperfroll 22,*are oov- 4 ered b a segmental shield 50 which extends over t e tops of the frame end brackets 12 llo and from one tothe other thereof. This 4 'shield 50 is secured to and supported on laterally spaced pairs of guard anges'l for the gears 30. These guard {hinges-51 are connected b webs v52',..the 'upper and lowerl ends of which ,arebifurcated `These webs 52 extend between the ends ofthe :rolls 22 and 23 and the gears 30 and the lower bifurcated ends thereof straddlethe shaft -25 and rsupport said lwebs,tdgeth'er with the guard flanges 51 and shield 5() therefrom.. The

upper bifurcated ends of the webs 52 re?v ceive the sha-ft 24 'with freedom for floating movement and also hold said webs in upright positions. The guard fianges 51am 3lars A54 pinneclfthereto for engagement .with

of vsuch width :as to overla the Jframe yend brackets 'l2 :and fthe -f'ends Yo the :rolls lv22 and 23 and thereby, `together ywith portions of the shield i550, .entirely Acover the gears 30.-

These guard flanges .'51 also' prevent .clothes, when -passing ibe'tween 4the rolls '322 yand 23,

l from lgetting between the ends o f vrsaid Arolls fand the ggears 30. s

The .-*fdllowiing'mechanism provided for `automati'cally operating .the shipper tcollar '20, by 'a movement ofthe safety .guard -38,.to

render :eitheroff lthe clutches .21 operative, vat will, to 'turn the rolls22 and 23 Aeither forward Ior hackward tor set both of `said lower roll 123, to wit: A countershaft '53 is journaledin #the @housing .13 above `the shaft clutches liin neutral `position and therebystop the driving .power trom `the shaft .3:5 @to :the

18 :and `held eaoainst jaxial .movement lby colbosses `onoppositewalls, of said housing.

l `Loosely 'mounted on the sha'ft 53 is'a-'sleevelike head 55 having a depending bifurcated I to.

' shipper 1lever'56 which straddles the shipper v'collar`i20, extends into an annular channel.- -formed'therein'fandconnects said head there- On opposite ends of the head 55-.are1

cams 57 w ich -co-operate with yielding cam abutments 58 .mounted -on lthe shaft 53 for slight end-wisel sliding movement but held" for rotation therewith by pin-keys' andke ways 59. Coiled :springs 60 which encirc e the shaft 53, rare compressed between the col? lars '54 and Vcam abutments 58 and yieldingly hold 4saidcam abutments at their,- extremev movement-.toward eachother. f

The purpose of yieldingly mounting the 'cam abutment .'58 is tov permit the guard shield 38 to be operated to connect the up- .per roll 22 tothe tension devices,'irr ctive of the positionsl of the clutches 21. n case vthe members, .of,the clutch to be connected are nothligiied lwhen the safet guard 38 is operated -to connect the sha .25 to the driving mechanism; the abutment 58, away from which 'the `shipper 4head 55 is moving,

in an expanded A"intermediatey rtion'of'thel adjacent pressure lever 36.

"flexibly connected to the lshaft v53by a universal joint 63 andto .'said couplingheadby' will yieldto `permit the required movement of said safety guard and clutch actuating mechanism.` Immediately upon the alignment of the members of the respective clutch, the compressed s ring, acting through its .abutment 58 on t e shipper. head 55, will operate the `shipper cellar membersto-interlockr .Y The shaft 53 is connected "to the' 4inner 20 and cause said ably mountedl'in an 'annular seat 62 formed his hub 61 is forming, on saidhub', a4 radially elongated ingiy formed chimenea in laid,zeimqaing-l head'. The purlwose of n A the hub-"61 tothe shaft 53 to permit the required yraising and lowering movement of lthe upper roll 22.

en pressure is applied to the upper. roll v22, :the lug 64 extends .substantially in released, the -lu 64 is yin ai vertical position 'lo a horizontal plane, lbut when said pressure is 'n :so that, in liftmg the vupper roll from the frame end l'brackets'12,sa'1d lug will move v out -of the channel l 65 and therebyl separate the :upper roll v22-f from the clutch actuating mechanism.-

As shown, a cast metal drain board 66 is rockably supported on the frame bar 11 for 'movement from one side of the wringer frame tothe other. 'This' drain'board 66 is `connected tothe frame end brackets 12 and fheld vin either of its extreme positions, with freedom -for movement from one side of the wringer frame 4to the other, b studs or pins 67 secured to said .iframe en brackets and turnedends o i said drainboard.

'..Ihe ,operation of the im rovedclothes Wller may be brielydescri ed asfollows:

position by the clutch actuating mechanism.

extending intoslots vr68 lformed 1in 'the' up-j enl ressure is released from the upper f roll 22, :t esafety guard 38 is in an intermediate or upright osition, as .'shown. in` Fig. 3, and the clutc es 21 held in neutralv In this position of the safety uard 38, the v passageways 34 are `aligned wit the lugs .35` .of the spring pressure-devices andthe lug 64 is ina vertical position so that by liftin saidvsafety guarmfallof the parts carried by the shaft 4' may be lifted from the frame end brackets-12 and' separated from the 'spring pressure devices and theclutchactu.-y

has been removed from the amev end removed therefrom described.

indicated in Fig. 3, a. movement thereof to ,the rxght,as shown in Fig. .2,'will interlock *the coupling heads32 with the lugs 35 of .the pressure devices and the cam surfaces37`- will lift the levers 36 and place the springs 46 under a further tension at which they'are When the safety guard`38 isi positioned as i held hy the thumb nuts 44, and thereby p ress ythe, upperV .roll 22 onto the lower yroll 23. This pressure may be varied, at lwill, by ad- 'f justing the thumb nuts. 44.I It is, of-course,

understood. that the cam surfaces 37 Amay be gf `Walls 1 of,y the channels 33 made concentric tothe axis' 1 dispensed with and; the-engagi tof the shaft 24, in which `case vthe springs 46 will not be placed under Qurthertension by l-25 'the'engagement of the coupling heads 32 v with the lugs 35 of the spring tension de-Lf vices. i

r Duringthefinovement cfjthe savfetyfgu'ard' l' 38ffrom itspo'sition shown. in Fig. 3-to its position y'shown Ain 2,., the`l clutch actuat- .lo

clutches 21 from neutral position into a. po-

i sition as shown in Fig. 5, to thereby connect the left-hand gear 17 to the shaft 18 to drive the shaft and thereby cause the rolls 22 and 23 to turn in a direction to feed clothes therebetween from the side of the wringer on which the safety guard 38 is positioned. To reverse the direction of the rotation of the rolls 22 and 23, the safety guard 38 is moved in the opposite side of the wringer, as shown in Fig. 4, and this movement of the safety guard automatically operates the shipper collar 20 to release the-left-hand gear 17 and lock the right-hand gear 17 to said shaft. It is important to note that the safety guard 38 is always on the side of the wringer from which the clothes are being fed to the rolls. 22 and 23. It is also important to note that the safety guard 38 is located onlyv slightly above the planeof the engaging surfaces of the rolls so that in case t e operators fingers are caught between the rolls or in the clothes being fed to they rolls, the

4 safety guardmay be engaged by a slight up ward movement of the hand and thereby lifted into an intermediate position so as to carry the passageways 34 of the coupling heads 32 into alignment with the lugs 35, thereby relasingthe pressure on the upper roll 22 and permitting the same to lift and,

at the same time, this movement of the safety guard 38 will. operate-thc-clutch actuating mechanismv and cause the same to move the clutches 21 into neutral position and thereby stop the driving power to the rolls.

By providing only a single operating device 'for the ',wringer to release the pressure "on the rolls and stop 'the driving power thereto, an per'atornever has to hesitate as to what todo in case of an emergency'T` as hehas accustomed himself to the use of only a single operatingv device, which is in itself a safetyv device.`

From the above description, it is evident that the bar 38 performs two independent and distinct functions,y the rme in.whicl 1 it affords means by which the pressure devlces are operated to apply pressure to the rolls or release the same and by which the clutch is operated to start, stop 'or reverse the rolls,

and the other function is to afford a safety vfor worn out rolls, and in removing one or` both of the rolls from the frame 4and againreplacing the same, it is not necessary to @hangs the adjustment of the spring tension devices or any other part of the wringer. It will be noted that there are no angular parts on the wrin-ger on which articles might catch and be drawn between the rolls, and, furthermore, all of the movable parts of the Wrin'ger are covered so as to protect the operator and the clothes.

The improved wringer, while extremely simple to manufacture and easy to assemble, has, in actual usage, proven highly efficient for the purpose had in view.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with co-o erating rolls, of means including a clutch or driving one of the rolls, a safety guard mounted for movement'parallel to the rclls'from an inoperative position over said rolls to one side thereof into an operative position ,in front of the contacting surfaces of the rolls. and connections from the safety guard to the clutch including a shi per lever, said shipper lever being arrangedp to actuate the clutch and thereby stop the driven roll by a movement of the safety guard into a position over the rolls and start said rolls by a movement v of the safety guard. onto one side of the rolls into an operative position in front of their contacting surfaces.

.2. 'The combination with co-operating rolls, of means including a clutch for driving one of the rolls, a safety guard mounted for movement parallel to the rolls from an inoperative position over said rolls tov either lside thereof into an operative position in front of thecontacting surfaces of the rolls, and connections from the safety guard to the clutch including a shipper lever, said 'ship er lever being arranged to actuate the clutc and thereby stop .the driven roll by a movement of the safety guard into a positionjover the rolls, start said rolls by a movement of the safety guard onto one side of the rolls into an operative position in front of their contacting surfaces and reverse said rolls by a movement of the safety guard onto the other side of the rolls into an operative position infront of their contacting surfaces.

v 3. The combination with co-operating rolls, of pressure devices set under tension for one of the rolls, means including a clutch for driving one of the rolls, and a safety Guard movable into operative positions in front of the contacting surface of the rolls from one feeding sidethereof to the other, to place one of the rollsunder the action ct the pressure devices and actuate the clutch to start or reverse the driven roll and movable into an intermediate position to the feeding side of the rolls to an operative .driven roll. from the release the clutch.

5. The combination with co-operating rolls, of pressure devices set under a variable tension, means for driving one of the rolls,

and a safety'guard on the feedino` side of the .rolls lhaving connections with the pressure devices whereb it is movable to place -one of the rolls un er the action of the pressure devices and movable into another position to release said roll from the pressure devices, the operative position of said safety guard being immediately above the bite of the rolls.

A6. The structure defined claim l 5 in 7 further. combination with cams actuated by the safety guard' when placing said rolls under the action of said pressure devices to `further increase the tension thereof. T l 7; The combination' with a frame, of cooperatin rolls, pressure devices. includin levers f crumed to the frame, bolts carrie by the levers, adjustableabutments on said :bolts and springs compressed between the frame and the abutments, coupling vheads I Avj carried by one of the rolls, means for driv.

y'ing the other roll, 'and a safety guard connecting said coupling heads for movement into one position for engagement with said.

"levers to position said safety guard on the feeding side of the rolls and lace the rei spective roll under the action o the pressure '1 -'devices and movable into another position, to" release the lcoupling heads from the ten- .siondevices..

8. The combinationwith a frame, of cooperating rolls, pressure devices including crumed to the frame, bolts carried by the levers, adjustable abutments on said. boltsand springs compressed between the levers framev and the abutments, coupling heads I carried -b'y-one of the rolls, means for' driving the, other roll including a clutch, andal sa e ty "guard connecting said coupling heads for movement into oneposition for engagement with `said levers to position the sa ety guard on the feedinlg side of the rolls and lace the respective ro of t e pressure devices 'and actuate said clutch to drive thev connected roll and mov-A f able into another position to release the coupling heads from the'tension devices -and'lv actuate said'clutchv to stop the connected r 'flugsto connect therespective-rolltmthe- '9.'The vc'zo'mbination with a frame, of co-r `operatin levers roll.A

.rolls,.pressure devices includin crumed to the frame, bolts carrie by the levers, adjustable abntments on said: bolts and springs compressed between the the rolls an under the action lugs, a sa frame and the abutments, coupling heads carried by. one of the rolls, means for driving the other roll including al clutch, and a safety guard connecting said coupling heads and movable into operative positions in front of the contacting surfaces of the rolls from one side thereof to the other Ito place the respective roll under vthe'actionof the .pressure devices and actuate the clutch to start or reverse the connected roll, said safety lguard being movable. intol an.inter.

mediate position to release thee respective roll-.from the pressure devices and actuate the clutch to stop the connected roll.

10. The combination with a frame, of cooperating rolls, pressure devices including levers fulcrumed to the frame and having lock lugs, bolts carried by the levers an having adjustable abutments and springs .compressed between the frame and abutments, oscillatory coupling heads carried by one of the rolls and avin segmental lock fianges for co-operation wit said lock lugs,

and a safet guarden-the feeding Side of d7 connecting said couplmg heads vfor simultaneous movement into one sition to carry the lock flanges into interigzking engagement with the lock lugs and into another position torelease the same there- 11. The .combination with 1 ico-operating .v as

rolls, of pressure. devices including' levers 'I having lock lugs, oscillatory cou ling heads carried by'one of said rolls and avmg circumferentially extended lock anges circumferentially spaced to afford passageways therebetween for the lock lugs, and a safety guard. connecting said coupling heads for ltnultaneous movement, said safet. guard mg rolls to the other to alternately carry the movable from vone feeding si e of the lock anges into engagement with. the lock lugs to connect the respective roll to the 1 pressure devices and movable into an interj mediate position to register the lock 1u with said passageways to release said ro fromfthe pressure. devices. l

12. The combination with V rolls, ofpressure devices set under tension and including levers having lock lugs oscillatory heads carried by one of said rolls and having circumferentially extended cam-MQ ing flanges, circumferentially to af# fcrd passageways -therebetweenfor the lock ety ard connecting said cou-v phng heads for slmultaneous movement, said; 4 l safety guard being movable fromcne ing side' of the rolls. to thefother. to carri preure devices and'iplacethe under with said passageways toreleastisI 'd ro from the pressure devices.` 3

,said anges intc 'engs,gementwithth 10c i i lao' totl

v l 13. The combination with' upper and low- 'er co-operating rolls, of a pressure device,

means for driving the lower roll, a coupling head carried by the upper-roll for connect-- ing the same to, the pressure ldevice'meansV varranged to be actuated bythe oouphng head to start, stop or reverse the lowerroll,

and a safety guard carried by said coupling; head and movable from one e'edingside of,- vthe rolls to the other to connect the upper' roll to the pressure device and start orre-v 'verse the lower roll or into an intermediate position to release the upper roll from the pressure device and Siep the lmve?l will.

t'141. In 'a' Wringer, the combinationn with 15 the rolls-of a pair of upwardly extending pivotally mounted side pieces, one of seid. :sidev pieces being located at each end of the wringer, a handle at thetop connecting said v side pieces, a driving shaft, and means oon- 120 trolled` by the movement of said handle and side pieces about the axis of the side pieces for applying and releasing pressure between the 'rolls .and for starting'and stopping *lzhe'l rolls. 

